About the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants Rivalry

By Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer Updated: 19 January 2024

Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer

Amelia Walker is a Senior Content Writer at Betting.US. She has a law degree and deep knowledge of the gambling laws in the United States. Her mission is to keep players informed about responsible gambling, while her passion for sports helps her create useful guides. Amelia has over a decade of experience in betting, which has positioned her as a trusted voice among our readers.

See Full Bio

Twitter X

Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Francisco Giants – One Of The Biggest MLB Rivalries In The US

• History & Previous Meetings
• Los Angeles Dodgers Memorable Moments
• San Francisco Giants’ Memorable Moments
• Los Angeles Dodgers’ Recent Form and Season
• San Francisco Giants’ Recent Form and Season

The rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants is one of the most storied and intense rivalries in Major League Baseball. This rivalry began when the Giants were based in New York and continued when both teams relocated to the West Coast in 1958. The two teams are fierce competitors in the National League West, and fans highly anticipate their matchups.

It is one of the most intense and enduring rivalries in Major League Baseball (MLB) history, characterized by memorable moments, dramatic games, and passionate fan bases. The Giants were established in New York in 1883, while the Dodgers (originally known as the Brooklyn Atlantics) began in 1884.The teams had a natural rivalry as they were both based in New York.

Both teams moved to California for the 1958 season, with the Dodgers heading to Los Angeles and the Giants to San Francisco. This geographical proximity intensified the rivalry as they were now competing for the hearts of West Coast fans. In the past 20 years, the Los Angeles Dodgers have had one of the best runs in baseball history, winning the National League (NL) West division 12 times. The numbers make the rivalry even more intense. Dodgers have 24 NL titles to the Giants’ 23; in World Series titles, the Giants edge the Dodgers by 8-7.

History & Previous Meetings

Across all competitions, these two rivals have clashed a staggering 2572 times since 1889. The tough rivalry has seen both teams compete with unparalleled intensity, resulting in close head-to-head competition. The Giants currently lead overall with 1282 wins to the Giants’ 1273.

Los Angeles Dodgers Memorable Moments

A rivalry that has existed in three different centuries and run for over a century is undoubtedly full of memorable moments. Los Angeles Dodgers had their most memorable moment in the rivalry in 2021 when they were forced to play a knock-out game as they finished the regular season with 106 wins to the Giants’ 107. They faced off against each other in the pinnacle battle where the Dodgers took the series. This was the first post-season meeting between the two teams.

In 2004, a topsy-turvy encounter on the season’s last day between the two teams ended in Steve Finley sending Los Angeles into the playoffs. San Francisco had a 3-0 lead, which the Dodgers cut to 3-2 before Finley launched one into the seats that granted them the victory.

San Francisco Giants’ Memorable Moments

One of the most notable moments in the long rivalry between these two teams came in the year 1965. The Giants trailed the Dodgers by one game, coming off a 94-loss campaign. Unlikely hero, catcher Brian Johnson stepped to the plate in the 12th inning and launched a walk-off blast that ensured his team moved up into first place. The momentum led the Giants to win the West NL by two games over their rivals.

A similar story ensued in 1982 when the Giants reached the playoffs after 16 years. 39-year-old and future Hall of Famer Joe Morgan gave an unexpected performance with the score tied at 2-2. He came up with a two-out, three-run home run that gave his team a 5-3 victory and dashed the Dodgers’ playoff hopes.

In 1962, both teams finished with a 101-64 record, which set up a three-game tie-breaker. The Giants got the lead at 1-0, which was leveled by the Dodgers in Game 2. In Game 3, the Giants secured a come-from-behind 6-4 victory.

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Recent Form and Season

Los Angeles Dodgers enjoyed a fantastic season this year and finished at the top of the NL West table. They had a win-loss record of 100-62, winning 53 of their home games and losing just 28.

In their last ten games, the Dodgers won six and lost four. They suffered a disappointing defeat to the Diamondbacks in the playoffs, losing both game one and game two. Thus, the Dodgers were knocked out of this year’s MLB.

San Francisco Giants’ Recent Form and Season

The San Francisco Giants have had a nightmare season in the MLB this year, especially compared to the Dodgers. They finished fourth in the NL West table, where the Dodgers finished in first place in the regular season. We can only assume that many gamblers were unpleasantly surprised when they chose this season the Giants for live betting on MLB.

The Giants had a 79-83 win-loss record, winning just three of their last ten matches against seven losses. Their final game of this season was a disheartening defeat to their long-term rivals. The Dodgers bested them 5-2 in the last league-stage game of the season.